Summary In the early afternoon of 01 April 2002, the rented open boat Deep Water had five persons on board when it capsized in the turbulent waters of Sechelt Rapids near Egmont, B.C. Four persons were rescued and the other drowned. Ce rapport est galement disponible en franais. Other Factual Information Particulars of the Vessel Description of the Vessel The DeepWater is a small, open sport fishing boat of rivetted aluminum construction. The vessel's hull is a conventional V-form design with a transom stern, four athwartships seats and two longitudinal bench seats aft. Positive flotation is provided by Styrofoam blocks installed beneath three of the athwartships seats. A Canadian Coast Guard plaque attached to the vessel's interior transom indicates that the vessel meets Canadian government Construction Standards for Small Vessels. The vessel was fitted with a 20horsepower outboard engine of recent manufacture. Safety equipment on board the vessel included the following: five government-approved personal flotation devices (PFDs), a whistle, one 10m buoyant heaving line, and a medical emergency kit with bandages and disinfectant. History of the Voyage Photo 2 - The DeepWater at marina moorings In the mid-morning of 01April2002, a group of five friends prepared to rent a small aluminum sport fishing boat from a marina in Egmont, B.C. Only one of the friends spoke English well enough to arrange the rental of the open boat DeepWater. The owner told the English-speaking renter to stay clear of the turbulent waters of Sechelt Rapids. The DeepWater left Egmont at about 1000 Pacific standard time2 and proceeded north to the Agamemnon Channel. After nearly an hour of poor fishing, the boat made its way southward through Sechelt Rapids into Sechelt Inlet. The group fished there until about 1245, when they attempted a return voyage northwards through Sechelt Rapids. Unlike their first transit through the Rapids, there was now a strong northerly ebb current. The DeepWater was caught in a strong backeddy,3 which turned the boat through 180degrees and sent it back in a southerly direction towards Sechelt Inlet. Before the boat could return to the relatively calm waters of the inlet, it capsized in a section of the rapids between Sechelt Islets and Roland Point. The boat capsized to starboard while in the turbulent waters of a backeddy. Of the five persons aboard the boat, all but one were wearing PFDs. Two persons clung to the boat's overturned hull and were rescued later. Two swam to shore near Roland Point. All four survivors were taken to St. Mary's Hospital in nearby Sechelt, B.C., where they were treated for mild hypothermia. The fifth person had noPFD and was last observed clinging to an empty plastic cooler while being swept away by the fast flowing water. His body was recovered two months later in Sechelt Inlet. (See AppendixA - Sketch of Occurrence Area.) Geographical Information Photo 3 - View of Sechelt Rapids Sechelt Rapids, locally known as Skookumchuck Rapids, is located at the entrance of Sechelt Inlet. The rapids extend over an area approximately 1000m long and 500m wide, between Roland Point and the Sechelt Islets. Tidal streams within the rapids can reach 16knots during large tides. The strongest ebb stream occurs just west of Sechelt Islets light, with a strong cross-channel set toward the WNW. A large backeddy occurs to the north of the light, and whirlpools form close to the light. It is hazardous for any vessel to attempt to navigate Sechelt Rapids except at or near slack water.4 Weather and Current Information The Canadian Hydrographic Service Tide and Current Tables, Volume5, predicted that a 13knot maximum ebb current flowing in a 315True direction would occur at 1305hours, which is the approximate time of the accident. There was no recorded wind and the skies were clear and sunny. Local Boat Rental Businesses Egmont, B.C., is the northern-most settlement at the end of 86km of roadway along the Sechelt Peninsula, which has its southern-most terminus at Langdale, B.C. Commonly known as the "Sunshine Coast," Sechelt Peninsula is characterized by numerous sheltered bays and waterways, which are popular destinations for tourists wishing to rent small open boats such as the DeepWater for either fishing or sightseeing excursions. Operator Experience and Certification Even though the person in the group designated as the operator had rented a boat from the same company on two previous occasions, he was not an experienced boat handler. Neither he nor any of the other occupants had received any marine training or certification, nor were they required to have done so. Boat Rental Safety The federal Office of Boating Safety (OBS)5 is responsible for promoting safe and responsible recreational boating activities. The areas of the OBS responsibility include the administration of the Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations and those sections of the Small Vessel Regulations that apply to pleasure craft. In the case of operating a pleasure craft rental, one of the following proofs of competency are recognized: Pleasure Craft Operator Card, written proof of having completed training prior to 01April1999, or a Rental Boat Safety Checklist6 completed and signed by both the person who makes the pleasure craft available for rent and the person who will operate it. These proofs of competency requirements are being phased in over a ten-year period and will come into full force on 15September2009. However, in the interim as in this instance, the renter, who was born before 01April1983 and who was renting a motor boat over four metres in length, was not required to complete and sign a Rental Boat Safety Checklist or to have any other recognized proof of competency.7 The intent of the Rental Boat Safety Checklist is to improve the safety of rental motor boat operations by promoting the safe use of navigable waters, developing a safety attitude towards pleasure boating, and providing a means for pleasure craft operators to demonstrate their competency. The checklist contains the tasks, skills and knowledge necessary for safely operating a rental boat. Search and Rescue Operations Rescue operations were initiated by an emergency 911phone call made by a person ashore who observed the accident. During the afternoon and evening of the accident, the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria, B.C., tasked 11vessels and one Search and Rescue helicopter to engage in the search and rescue operations. In addition, provincial Emergency Health Services dispatched one helicopter and two ambulances. One of the ambulances was used to transport the survivors to St. Mary's Hospital in Sechelt, B.C.